Fire and Ice Class 10 Worksheet English Chapter 1

Multiple Choice Questions

Q1: Why are desires compared to fire?
(a) Both are lethal
(b) Both are related to heat
(c) Both burn
(d) Both consume rapidly
The correct Answer is Option (d)
Desires are powerful and can lead to a quick end. Just like fire, desire can spread and consume fast leading to apocalypse.

Q2: According to the poem Fire and Ice, what do some people think the world will end in?
(a) Rain
(b) Moon
(c) Sun
(d) Fire
Correct Answer is Option (d)
According to the poet, some people believe that the world will end in fire because of the violent desires of man.

Q3: "But if it had to perish twice." What does ‘it’ stand for in this line?
(a) World
(b) Desire
(c) Ice
(d) Fire
Correct Answer is Option (a)
The poet through the poem tries to opine that hate and greed are the greatest malice in this world. The poet says that although he favors the belief that the world would end in fire, he also feels that if the world were to end twice it would end in ice i.e. man’s propensity to hate the other will be the cause of it’s demise.

Q4: Who is the poet of the poem Fire and Ice?
(a) Robert Frost
(b) Ben Jonson
(c) William Cowper
(d) William Blake

The correct Answer is Option (a)
Robert Frost is the poet of ‘Fire and Ice’.

Q5: Name the poetic device used in the line To say that for destruction ice is also great.
(a) Oxymoron
(b) Alliteration
(c) Imagery
(d) Metaphor
Correct Answer is Option (c)

Short Answer Type Questions

Q6: Which age-old question does the poem revolve around? 
Ans: The poem revolves around the age-old question of whether the world will end in fire or in ice. People are divided on this issue. Some believe that fire will become the cause of the end and others think that ice will end the world. Here, fire symbolizes human desire and ice symbolizes hatred.

Q7: What do the metaphors of Ice and Fire convey to the reader? Elaborate. What is the message given by the poet?
Ans: Frost presents the two of the darkest traits of humanity; the capacity to hate and the capacity to be consumed by lust or desire. Of the two, he attributes the greater of the two evils, is desire. In giving desire the foremost position with regard to the destruction of the world, Frost provides a powerful statement on the subject of greed and jealousy, saying that above all trait of humanity that is most likely to lead to its demise. Desire represents the greatest problem that contributes to the cause of the war. Frost then attributes hatred to the same capacity to do harm. However, he lessens the relative importance of hatred but still presents it as having the ability to lead to the destruction of the world if it were to happen for a second time.

Q8: What do ‘Fire’ and ‘Ice’ stand for and what is the general opinion regarding the world? 
Ans: Fire’ stands for fury, desire, lust, anger, avarice, cruelty, greed. Ice is symbolic of hatred, coldness, rigidity, insensitivity, and intolerance. The general opinion regarding the world is that the world will end in fire and some say in ice. Both reasons contrast each other and one is equally opposite to each other. People who favor fire believe that it will be the heat and passion that will end the world. On the other side, some people think that it will be the ice that will freeze the world.

Q9: How can fire destroy the world?
Ans: Fire’ symbolizes passion or hatred. It will lead to conflicts and ultimately destroy the world. Fire represents desire that is fervent, consuming, and always wanting more. Ice represents hatred that is hard and cold.

Q10: What is the central idea of the poem ‘Fire and ‘Ice’? 
Ans: The poet presents two possibilities about the end of the world. It will be either due to ‘Fire or ‘Ice’ he prefers the first as he believes the world will end in fire but the ice will not go away.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q11: Discuss how extreme behavior can hasten the end of the world with respect to ‘Fire and Ice’. 
Ans: The concept of 'Fire' serves as a representation of intense desire, encompassing a fervent love or craving that directs individuals toward acquiring and possessing materialistic pursuits. Within our society, numerous individuals dedicate their lives to attaining larger TVs, more stylish cars, or more opulent homes. This relentless desire, however, often leads individuals to their downfall, manifesting in financial ruin or fractured relationships. Frost's poem delves into the theme of greed corrupting both individuals and society at large.
On the other hand, 'Ice' symbolizes the potent force of hatred. While desire swiftly consumes, hatred quietly generates restrained devastation. A prime example is the role of hatred in fostering racism and fueling wars, with its impact enduring in the minds of people for generations. Moreover, hatred can consume the hater even more profoundly than the person being hated, ultimately resulting in the ruin of lives.

Q12: The poem ‘Fire and Ice’, carries with it very deep thematic ideas. Elaborate on these darkest traits of humanity.
Ans: Frost explores two of humanity's darkest traits in his work: the capability for hatred and the susceptibility to be consumed by lust or desire. Interestingly, he assigns the greater degree of malevolence to desire. By emphasizing desire as the primary force behind the world's destruction, Frost delivers a compelling commentary on the perils of greed and jealousy. He suggests that, above all human traits, desire poses the greatest threat to the world and plays a significant role in the causes of war. Frost then attributes hatred with a comparable potential for harm, albeit he diminishes its relative significance. Still, he underscores its ability to contribute to the world's destruction, especially if allowed to manifest once again.

Q13: How will the world end? Support your answer with a scientific explanation. 
Ans:  Scientists propose two potential reasons for world destruction:

• Some believe the Earth could be incinerated from its fiery core. This could lead to natural calamities like volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis, ultimately ending the world.
• Others argue that an impending ice age, triggered by global warming and melting ice from snowy mountains, poses a significant threat. This scenario envisions the world shrinking as icy waters prevail, resulting in the demise of all living things.
  Frost's work serves as a cautionary message about these dual challenges facing humanity, highlighting the potential consequences of human vices with increased impact.

Extract Based Questions

Q14: 
Some say the world will end in fire
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
(a) What is the poet’s opinion of the world in these lines?  
Ans: In the poet’s opinion the world will end in fire. 
(b) What is the poet’s opinion about the world?
Ans: According to the poet, the world will end in fire.
(c) What is the contradictory opinion of the public?
Ans: The contradictory opinion of the public is the debate whether the world will end in fire or ice. 
(d) How are ice and fire similar to each other though they have contradictory traits? 
Ans: Both ice and fire are similar in the sense that both of them would destroy everything in the world. 

Q15: 
 But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
(a) Why does the poet feel that ‘ice’ is also great for destruction?
Ans: Ice equates with 'hatred', which is enough to destroy the world.
(b) What is the rhyme scheme of this stanza of the poem?
Ans: a b a b a
(c) The two things that the poet thinks are good enough for destruction are 
Ans: fire and ice which means 'hatred' and 'desire'.
(d) What does ‘it’ stand for in the first line?
Ans: Here, 'it' stands for the world.